OLYMPIA, WA – The Artesians hosted USL W League newcomer Salmon Bay FC Friday night in front of a raucous Thurston County crowd in the final match of the 2025 regular season. The Artesian women had experienced adversity of late having dropped two road matches in a row making the final divisional match a necessary positive point result to make it to the USL W League National Tournament.
The new rivalry with the Ballard FC-owned USL W franchise also fueled by nine former Artesian players that defected to Salmon Bay this offseason. All of whom suited up Friday night against their former club (FC Olympia) at the new pop-up Artesian stadium at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey, Washington.
The game itself featured significant back and forth, physical battles including countless saves from Artesian goalkeeper Faith Nguyen (Texas Tech). Salmon Bay needed a win against Olympia to then head to Bigfoot FC on Sunday and get a positive point to have the head to head on the Artesians to clinch the national tournament.
It wouldn’t come to fruition for Salmon Bay as the 0-0 stalemate gave FC Olympia the single point and solidifying margin to be crowned for the third time in three years as Northwest Division Champions of the USL W League.
“It was always going to be good soccer and be a tough match up” said FC Olympia Head Coach Kellyn Green about the match. “But we’re excited to do this at home in front of our fans and raise our level of play.”
Green’s players did just that and gained a much needed point Friday and will return to the USL W League National Playoff held in California. The host city is yet to be determined but preliminary talk of Orange County, California or Stockton, California hosting the West Coast opening playoff matches depending on fixture results this weekend for the Southwest Division.
USL W League National Tournament Fundraiser | Goal $6,000
The women’s soccer team is having an internal team fundraiser to try and get funding assistance for airfare, practice fields, team van rentals, meals and more. To donate please visit this link click here. Airfare estimates alone are at $7,500 while vans and meals are $2,000. $6,000 is the goal for the team and we hope you all share the love and fundraise today.
Vertical Raise | Fundraiser Link
Standings
Starting XI | FC Olympia
Match Film
Full Gallery | C-Sharp Images
